依託於江、湖等水域，從事劫掠活動者稱之為「江湖盜」。兩湖地區水域面積廣大，生存著為數眾多的江湖盜。明清兩湖地區的江湖盜主要有「偶爾為之」的社會型盜匪以及職業型盜匪兩種，他們具有流動性、隱蔽性及分散性等特徵。為了應對兩湖地區日益猖獗的江湖盜匪，官府實施了在基層社會推行水保甲制度，在水域地區加強塘汛、巡檢、水師的配置和巡邏稽查制度等等相應的措施。並通過對停泊的碼頭、地處要衝的市鎮等沿江沿湖固定陸地的排查監控，以及針對江湖盜匪的流動性而採取的水上巡邏稽查等措施，力圖實現對江湖盜匪的全面管控。然而，這些措施並不能從根本上根除江湖盜的存在。

Pirates of rivers and lakes typically engaged in robbery or murder. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, there were a number of pirates in both Hubei and Hunan provinces, which contain thousands of rivers and lakes. Pirates of rivers and lakes may be divided into two types: occasional or occupational. They have fluidity, concealment, and dispersion characteristics. Officials adopted a series of anti-pirate measures such as implementing a water bao-jia system at the grass-roots level, strengthening patrol inspection on the water, and inspecting docks. However, these measures did not eradicate the pirate presence in the region.